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Tools for Portland's Tightening Rental Market

The reports are in and they confirm what we already know about Portland’s tight housing market. It has tightened further in the last six months.

Our partners at Multifamily Northwest presented the Apartment Report yesterday, a bi-annual publication that includes rent and vacancy data collected from the Portland metro area and throughout the state. Data and market perspectives are garnered from appraisers, lenders, brokers, economists and developers specializing in the multifamily industry.

According to the survey, apartment vacancy is down in the last six months, from 3.55 percent in April to 3.11 percent today.

Meanwhile, rents are continuing to climb in this landlord’s market. Market rate rents have increased on an average of 6.8 percent in Portland since April. Rents in older buildings have risen closer to 4 or 5 percent. This presents heightened challenges for those living in poverty who are already struggling to afford a home.

At the Portland Housing Bureau, we have developed the Portland Housing Growth and Opportunity Analysis, a locational framework that guides our investments. We invest in changing neighborhoods with high opportunity that are at risk of gentrifying. That way, residents can continue to live in places with access to vibrant cultural resources, great schools, fresh food, living wage jobs and excellent public transit.

In this tight rental market, we are working to counteract the effects of displacement so communities of color and other vulnerable people have equitable access to desirable neighborhoods and housing stability.